Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

Deputy Broughan's question is in order. The difference between the party leaders' allowance and the payments made to certain Independent Members - which are the subject of a question on the Order Paper - is that every cent paid out in respect of the former must be audited and accounted for. However, the Independent Members can put the money they are paid in their back pockets and then do what they like with it. There are no controls whatsoever in this regard. It is well recognised that this allowance is an election fund of €43,000 per year for each of the Independent Members to whom it is paid. When one multiplies €43,000 by five, one can see that it amounts to a huge election fund.

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